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Chapter 13: Are You and Your Verbs in the Right Mood?
sWish, thank. The imperative verbs are created by subtracting to from the infinitives.
tRemember. Somehow I doubt that Henry will forget this fact, but to order him, take to from the
infinitive.
ube. The subjunctive is needed for this indirect command, expressed by the verb asked.
vwere. Ellen likes to sleep until mid-afternoon. As she’s not a morning person, the subjunctive
verb were expresses condition-contrary-to-fact. The verb were is better than had been because
Ellen still is not a morning person, and had been brings in the past.
wsnows. Surprise! This one isn’t subjunctive. The instructor is talking about a possibility, not a
condition that didn’t occur. The normal indicative form, snows, is what you want.
xhad covered. The plow didn’t finish (the clue here is would have passed), so subjunctive is
needed.
ybe. An indirect command is created by the verb declared. The subjunctive be fits nicely.
Apostpone. The indicative (the normal, everyday form) of to postpone is postpones, when the
verb is paired with examiner. Here the indirect command created by requested calls for the sub-
junctive postpone.
Bhad not refused. The examiner stood firm: Take the test or die. Thus the first part of this sen-
tence is condition-contrary-to-fact and calls for the subjunctive.
Chad complained. Ellen said nothing, as revealed by the conditional would have investigated in
the second part of the sentence. Subjunctive is the way to go!
Dis. Did I get you here? The possibility expressed in the if portion of the sentence calls for a
normal, indicative verb (is). Stay away from subjunctive if the statement may be true.
Eis. The first part of this sentence is not condition-contrary-to-fact. It expresses a possibility and
thus calls for the normal, indicative verb (is).
Fhad not taken. She has taken it five times, so the statement isn’t true and needs a subjunctive.
Ggoes. Here the sentence expresses a possibility. She may go and she may have more luck. Stay
away from subjunctive if the sentence may be true.
Hskids. As in sentence 32, this one talks about something that is true (or may be true). Go for the
normal indicative and give the subjunctive a rest.
Ihad traveled. She didn’t travel, and she (thank goodness) doesn’t have a license. This condi-
tion-contrary-to-fact sentence needs the subjunctive.
Jdemonstrate. The verb requires tips you off to the fact that subjunctive is appropriate for the
indirect command.
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KCorrect.
LThe indicative is called for here because the sentences expresses a truth, not a condition-
contrary-to-fact or a command.
MThis part of the sentence expresses an indirect command, that every employee submit. The
indicative verb that matches the singular subject every employee is submits, but the subjunc-
tive form (submit) is needed here.
NA normal indicative verb works here because possibility exists.
OThe indicative is works best in this sentence, which expresses a real possibility and not a
condition-contrary-to-fact.
PBecause the possibility exists, the indicative is called for.
QThis statement is simply a fact, so the indicative is needed.
RThe second part of the sentence is an indirect command (the employee “donate”) and needs
the subjunctive.
63
8
3
93
14
3
4
4
4
54
74
94
0
5
55
45
15
25
04
24
64
84
35
73
Progress Report: Coffee Break Control
From: Ms. Bell, Coffee Break Coordinator
To: Ms. Schwartz, Department Head
Re: Coffee Break Control
July 31, 2006
As you know, I were am now in charge of implementing the new directive
that every employee submits submit to a coffee-residue test. If a test
were is given at a time when coffee-sipping were is not authorized and the
results were are positive, the policy require requires that the worker
“donates” “donate” a pound of coffee to the break room.
Do not asked ask me to describe the union’s reaction to this directive. If I
would tell were to tell you what the shop steward would have said, you
had blushed would blush. All I would say will say is that the steward
were was not happy.
Would Had you have known about the reaction before issuing the directive,
you would have had reconsidered. One more thing: the coffee stains on
my shirt, if they were to come out, should not make you thought think that I
were drinking drink coffee outside of the official break time. These stains
result from coffee being thrown at me.
174 Part III: The Pickier Points of Correct Verb and Pronoun Use
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SThe imperative mood, the command, calls for the infinitive minus the to. As this is a negative
command, do not is added. In the original, the -ed at the end of ask is wrong.
TThe writer is not telling, so a subjunctive verb form is needed to express a condition-contrary-
to-fact.
UThe report referred to concerns what was actually said. Indicative rules!
VIn a sentence expressing a condition-contrary-to-fact, the “untrue” portion should be subjunc-
tive, with the “would” statement in the other part of the sentence. This sentence reverses the
proper order (and plops a correct indicative verb, said, in the middle). Another possible correc-
tion: Had I told you . . . you would blush.
WA plain indicative verb is needed for this statement.
XThe original has a subjunctive (were) but indicative is called for in this simple statement.
YThe sentence expresses an untruth, so you need subjunctive. The corrected sentence reads
“Had you known about the reaction. . . .”
zThe original has two “would” statements. The “would” doesn’t belong in the “untrue” portion of
the sentence. Replace the first with a had statement and you’re in business: Had you known . . .
you would have reconsidered.
ZThis sentence doesn’t express a condition-contrary-to-fact. Instead, it talks about a possibility.
Go with indicative, not subjunctive.
1Stay in the indicative present here, not past.
2Indicative present is needed here.
3Correct.
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Chapter 13: Are You and Your Verbs in the Right Mood?
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176 Part III: The Pickier Points of Correct Verb and Pronoun Use
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Part IV
All You Need to Know
about Descriptions
and Comparisons
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